The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a 40 feet container at Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai on Sunday and seized Chinese-origin firecrackers and fireworks worth Rs 4.82 crore.
The agency said that they have arrested a key person in the case and questioned him to get leads on others involved in the illegal import of Chinese-origin fireworks into India.
The agency claimed that the firecrackers were allegedly smuggled by misdeclaration as “leggings” to avoid being caught.
As many as 46,640 pieces of concealed firecrackers hidden under a layer of garments were seized from the container originating from China and headed to ICD Ankleshwar, as part of DRI’s “Operation Fire Trail”.
The DRI added that they found incriminating documents which revealed the modus operandi of the smuggling syndicate.
Based on the document, a Gujarat resident was arrested, said a DRI official.
A few days ago, the DRI had seized 20 metric tonnes of Chinese firecrackers worth Rs 6.32 crore from a container at the same port.
In July, the agency had seized huge quantities of Chinese firecrackers worth Rs 35 crore which were found allegedly concealed in seven containers at Nhava Sheva Port, Mundra Port, and Kandla SEZ.
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Importing firecrackers are restricted under foreign trade policy, and requires licences from DGFT and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under the Explosive Rules, 2008.
